New MA Law Requires Safe-Boating Certificate

Eric Hansen and Lisa Malone receive a signed copy of the bill from Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll at the New England Boat Show. Photo/MMTA

On Wednesday, January 8, Massachusetts governor Maura Healey signed into law the Hanson Milone Safe Boating Act. The legislation, which was first introduced 10 years ago, establishes a state boater-education program that requires all boaters to obtain a boating-safety certificate in order to operate a boat within Massachusetts waters. It also requires the certificate to be present on the boat while it is being operated.

The legislation provides exemptions to merchant mariners, active members of the armed forces who are qualified to operate a boat, or students of a secondary or maritime school or college who operate motorboats as part of their instruction. Individuals who previously obtained a safe-boating certificate will not be required to retake the safe-boating exam. The law also recognizes certificates issued in other states with safe-boating requirements.

Anyone born after January 1, 1989, has until April 1, 2026, to obtain their certificate, provided that no operator shall be assessed a penalty until September 1, 2026. Anyone born on or before January 1, 1989, must obtain their certificate before April 1, 2028.

The legislation was hailed by public-safety officials, the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association, and the U.S. Coast Guard. According to Coast Guard statistics, “where instruction was known, 75% of all [boating-related] deaths occurred on vessels where the operator did not receive boating-safety education.”